The biannual H-Town Sneaker Summit event continues to evolve with every passing event. Just yesterday, we gave you the official details regarding the H-Town Sneaker Summit Winter 2011 which will be held in the Toyota Center (home of the Houston Rockets NBA Franchise) this Sunday, January 23, 2011, from 2PM-8PM.
In anticipation of this groundbreaking event, we sat down with H-Town Sneaker Summit’s Kadoma to talk about additional details of the H-Town Sneaker Summit Winter 2011, the origin of this biannual event and his standout memories of past Sneaker Summit events. View our two-page, in-depth interview with H-Town Sneaker Summit’s Kadoma below.
Nice Kicks: This H-Town Sneaker Summit marks seven years. Some of the attendees didn’t even know all the state capitols back then. Did you ever think what you organized many years back would be where it is today?
Kadoma: Yea, it’s pretty crazy to look back on 7 years. I thought about it and realized that if a kid went to their 1st H-Town Summit when they were 13, they have basically grown up with the Summit their entire teenage life into adult hood. We are definitely starting to see that next generation sneaker enthusiast becoming more and more prevalent at the event. We’ve made every effort to accommodate them and take them under our wing to steer them in the right direction toward what we feel is true and best for sneaker culture, and away from the bs and hype that infiltrated the culture since it hit the mainstream. I never really envisioned this future for the Summit. Like most heads my age I’ve already been into kicks a long time and never really see myself getting out of them. Even when times are hard I still admire sneakers and fashion to the point where it consumes a lot of my life. When we first started doing the Summit it crazy exponential growth the first couple of years. I always told myself as long as it was successful we would continue to push it to be bigger and better, but I never really thought it would get his far. After a while it just began to take a life of it’s own and become somewhat of a monster.
Nice Kicks: Tell me, how did the first one start?
Kadoma: The first Summit actually started on a popular shoe forum. It was back in late 2003, and a bunch of local folks on that forum wanted to get together and show what they had in their collections, meet each other, and kind of put a face to a name. At first there was a bunch of talk but no one really stepped up to the plate to make it happen. Finally some folks put their foot down and posted a date, place, and time, The first couple of events only very few people would actually bring sneakers to show. Most would just be happy to show off what they were wearing and talk and meet people with the same common interest. Most purchases or exchanges were done literally right off someones foot. Since I was still one of the older guys at the time I just took it as my duty to keep the Summit consistent, making sure we met back up every Summer and Winter when everyone was on break from school or work.
Nice Kicks: Houston and the Texas market has only recently gotten on the map of sneakers. What does it feel like to know you have had a helping hand in bringing together sneaker enthusiasts for a major community event?
Kadoma: I think Houston has always been on the map of sneakers. Ask the brands and they will tell you that. There is a lot of loyal buying power down here and I know that we are among the top markets for many brands. I just think that Houston and the Southwest in general has never had a face or an outlet to express that buying power other than just being numbers on a sheet somewhere. One of the goals of this event was to do that. To make some noise and let people know that we are here and just as passionate about sneakers as the fashion capitols that brands so easily get stuck on. The main goal of our event has always been to build upon the community while giving back to it and it is very fulfilling to see that community grow and mature. In the beginning it may have been more about the Southwest community, but now its about evolving the culture as a whole. I’d say holding the first sneaker event in a premier sports and entertainment complex is a pretty big deal, and not only does it represent our community well, but it also elevates sneaker culture world wide by putting it on such a grand stage.
Nice Kicks: What was a defining moment for you when you realized that the Sneaker Summit was much more than just a gathering of close friends?
Kadoma: One of my first memorable moments was when the playground legend, Rafer Alston came to check out our event a few years back. This was when it was still in a local sports bar and only a couple of dozen people. Then Bun B of UGK came through to one of the next events with a little display of his own. It’s always cool seeing Athletes and Entertainers being at the event and sharing their like passion for sneakers with the kid next door displaying their closet collection. Now people will go hunt for shoes, buy an outfit, ask a date, maybe even start up a business just for the event! It’s pretty crazy.
“The main goal of our event has always been to build upon the community while giving back to it, and it is very fulfilling to see that community grow and mature.”– Kadoma |
Nice Kicks: Something that is always interesting is the list of high profile people who have stopped by the H-Town Sneaker Summit. That’s one of the biggest surprises each show.
Kadoma: Yea, we have made every effort to keep the door open and not corner our self into being only a hardcore sneaker head show. I realize there are a lot of different people into sneakers who may have found that passion through a different avenue, whether it be music, fashion, skateboarding, dancing, athletics, whatever. We try to make sure that everyone feels welcomed and uniquely represented at the event. It is kind of crazy that some of those people just happen to be professional athletes and entertainers who want to check out what we got going on and share their passion for sneakers.
Nice Kicks: What do you think kids think when they see people that they watch on TV or listen to on the radio are just as into sneakers as they are?
Kadoma: Hopefully, it gives them a sense of reality that most celebrities are just regular people who work hard at their craft or talent, and enjoy the same things that other folks do. I hope that it gives them the feeling that these celebrities are just regular people who are working toward and accomplishing their goals, and that if they put their mind to it they can do the same.
To read page 2 of the interview click here.
